Pneumatic-dynamic car for diminishing the destructive effects of railroad collisions.



P. PENZA. MINISHINGIHE DESTRUGTIVE EFFECTS 0F RAILROAD coLLlsloNs.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 4, 1914.

PNEuMATlc DYNAMIC CARFoR nl Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

TED sTATEs PASQUALE PENZA, or BOLOGNA, I TALY. j

PNEUMATIC-DYNAMIC CAR FOR DIMINISI-IING DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS F l'xutllflll` ROAD COLLISIONS. v

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M31'. 6, 1917.

Application filed December 4, 1914. Serial No. 875,417.

To all 'whom z't may concern: l

Be it knownv that I, PASQUALE v. PENZA, subject of the King ofv Italy, residing at Bologna, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Dynamic Cars for Diminishing the Destructive Effects of Railroad Collisions, of which the following is a. specification.

The object of-this invention is to absorb the momentum of a movingrailway train in car bodies 3 3 are slidably connected by a Y system of beams 4 arranged on the top and on the sides of the car. These beams are connected at their central part by means of bolts to a metal band 5 situated in a vertical plane, such metal band being employed in order to create a solid fastening of the beams between each other. The beams are la the case of such train colliding with another supported .with their ends within guides train, or other obstacle, so as to diminish or pockets22 formed by a bent iron sheet the destructive effectsof the collision with which is lfastened onthe walls of the car respect to passengers, goods, and rolling body. vThese guides are'provided on the top stock. wall and on the side walls of the car bodies 70 This object is attained, according to the and made so as to allow the system of beams present invention, by the provision of a tank 4 to slide therethrough. Cuts 23 are procontaining compressed air such tank, when vided in the lower guides 22 and projections a collision occurs, being reduced Vin its vol- 24 carried by the corresponding beams enume to increase the compression of the air gage said cuts so that the beams 4 cannot be 75 and by this increased pressure special valves drawn entirely out of the car bodies. Beautornatically open allowing a gradual contween the car bodies a double system of tinuous outflow of the compressed air into tubesof iron 6 constituting an air tank is the atmosphere. By these means the moprovided in such a manner that the differ- 25 mentum of the moving train will only pro ent tubes allow a telescopic movement be- 80 duce a compression of the air in the tank. tween each other while a perfectly tight Means are also provided to admit the lcomjoint is maintained between the several tubes. pressed air to the main air brake pipe so The central element of this telescopic air as to automatically actuate the air brakes. tank is suspended by the metal band 5 by Such a car is preferably placed in the means of vertically adjustable' hook 7 and 85 front part of the train, that is to say, just the outside ends of the telescopic air tank behind the locomotive tender and at the are fastened to the inner walls of the car end of the train. bodies 3 3. l

A constructional example of the invention In' Figs. 4 .and 5v are represented two deis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, vices for rendering the elements forming `90 in which the lair tank perfectly airtight.

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section In Fig. 4, 8 is a leather or rubber ring and a partial elevation of the car. Fig. 2 kept against the wall of the cylinder by a is a plan view of one half of the car. Y metallic ring 9 having lan annular groove in 40| Fig. 3 is a cross section of the car taken which is supported Vthe Vcircular spring 10. 95 on the line A A Fig. 1. v, Bolts 11 connect Athe leather ring 8 to the Figs. 4 and 5 are details of constructions metallic ring 9 and the whole to the flange hereinafter referred to. of the tubing 6.V rIhe spring 10 insures the The dimensions of the improved car may continuous adherence of the packing to the vary between a maximum, as represented inside wall of the cylinder and therefore a 10o for instance by a sleeping car and a miniperfect tightness during the displacement of mum as represented for instance by acommon one cylinder within the other is obtained. small freight car according to the strains to In Fig. 5, another device is shown for renbe taken up by the air cushion and in acdering the elements forming the air tank cordance with traiiic rules and regulations perfectly air-tight. In this case a gumned 105 regarding railway rolling stock. woven material 12 is applied against the The improved car comprises two ordinary wall of each of the iron tubes 6 of theV tank, car frames 1 1 made .of heavy steel beams such material assuming a corrugated shape such frames being mounted upon the trucks when in compressed condition. The edges 2 2 with double or single axles. Upon the of the woven material are overlapped be- 11o neath the edges of the tubing and these overlapped portions are kept against the wall of the tubing by means of wooden rings 13 each bearing a. rubber packing 14 on its circumference. rlhreaded bolts 16 screwing into a common central nut 15 (see Fig. 3) are provided to keep the packing 14C against the wall of' the tank and to insure the necessary tightness.

If desired both of the devices shown in Figs. t and 5 may be applied toV theA tubes in case practical requirements need this.,

The air tank is fitted with two kinds of valves, the iirst kind, serving for the admission of air from the tank into the main pipe 19 of the air brake, `being conveniently located in the lugs 17 forming anextension of the air conduit 1S. The other kind 2() allow the outflow of air from the tank into the atmosphere after a collision. The discharge valves 20 are of large cross sectional opening and provided with spiral springs 21 of dit ferent strength in order to establish iny the different discharge valves diiierent resistances for the outlet of the air according to practical requirements.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the improved car, in case of a` collision, will act as a very powerful cushion while at the same time the valves in, connection with the main pipe of the air brake will be opened and an immediate braking of the train. will be caused, independently of the engine driver.

It' all the air contained in the air tank should become expelled, there will. still remain a very resistant cushion consisting of the two end parts of the car, which parts with their boxes may serve very well for the transportation of luggage, goods, mail and so on. Incase of a breakdown in the working of the air pump7 the air tank may be used to feed the air brake pipe untilv the necessary repairs have been made.

lVhat I claim is 1. A car for absorbing shocks caused by a collision or the like comprising two relatively movable end car bodies, an air tank acting as an air cushion and composed of a double system of telescopic tubes the ends of which are connected to said car bodies, wheel trucks upon which said car bodies are mounted, beams surrounding the air tank, guides formed in the walls of the car bodies to receive the ends of said beams and means :t'or controlling, in case of a collision, the escape of air from the air tank to the atmosphere.

Q. A car for absorbing shocks caused b v a collision or the like comprising two relatively movable end carrbodies, wheel trucks upon which said car bodies are mounted, an air tank comprising a, system of telescopic tubes the ends of which are connected to said car bodies, beams surrounding the air tank and slidingly engaging the walls of the said car bodies, valves for permitting, in the event of a collision, the escape of the air compressed in said air tank 'to the atmosphere at a desired pressure, an air brake pipe and mea-ns for also permitting compressed air to pass from the air tank to said brake pipe. Y

3. A car for absorbing shocks caused by a collision. or the like comprising two relatively movable end car-bodies, wheel trucks upon which said car bodies are mounted, an air tank comprising a system of telescopic 'tubes the ends of which are connected to event oi' a collision, the escape of the air.

compressed in said. air tank to the atmosphere at a desired pressure, an air brake pipe, and means for also permitting compressed air to pass from the air tank to said brake pipe.

In testimony whereof I have ailiXed my signature.

PASQUALE PENZA.

Gopes ol.l this patent may` be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing'. the-Commissioner of Patents, `\ashington,v D. C. 

